Corn-planter



1 P10 Model.) 4 SheatS-Sheet 1.

L. O. EVANS.

BORN PLANTER.

No; 508,568. Patented Nov. 14, 1893.

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INVENTOR (N0 Mom.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2. L, G. EVANS.

- CORN PLANTER.

Patented Nov. 14, 1.893.

. WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY5 No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

L. GLEVANS.

001m PLANTER.

No. 508,568. Patented Nov. 14,1898.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS m N A V. E C L (No Model.)

7 001m PLANTER. No. 508,568.

Patented Nov. 14, 1893.

ATTORNEYS UNTTED STATES PATENT @EETQE.

LOUIS O. EVANS OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

CO'RN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,568, dated November14,1893.

Application filed July 26, 1893- Serial No. 481,486. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

. Be it known that I, LOUIS O. EVANS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio,haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Corn-Planters, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in corn planters, and it especiallyrelates to that class of planters known as combined planters, in whichthe seed may be delivered to the seed tubes in a substantiallycontinuous manner in the nature of a drill, or may be dropped atintervals to form hills, as desired.

My invention consists in the various constructions and combinations ofparts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a machineembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation'ofthe same. Figs. 3 and at are details of a sprocket wheel used inconnection with the drilling apparatus. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are details ofthe dropping devices, and particularly relate to mechanism foroperatingsaid dropping devices by hand. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are detail views of aportion of the dropping mechanism, showing the means for retainingcertain portions of the dropping mechanism out of the operative positionwhen the machine is used as a drill. Fig. 11 is a detail view of ayielding connection used between the front and rear portions of themachine, usually designated the runner and wheel frame, respectively.Fig. 12 is a rear view of the seed hopper and its connections, indetail. Fig. 13 is a sectional view showing the same in side elevation.Fig. 14. is a vertical section of the same. Figs. 15, 16, 17 and 18 aredetail views of a covering device attached thereto.

Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in theseveral views.

' In the said-drawings A, represents the runner frame, and B, the wheelframe. The wheel frame is mounted on carrying wheels B attached at eachend to the axle B which is supported in suitable hearings on said wheelframe in the usual manner. The runner frame carries the seed boxes Asupported above the planting shoes A in the usual way; the parts beingsupported on and connected together by a hollow shaft or bar Apreferably square in cross section; said bar or shaft being adapted tocarry the check heads A at each end thereof; said check heads beingprovided with the ordinary check apparatus for the check wire A in theusual manner. The wheel frame B, is pivotally connected to the runnerframe A, preferably by means of extending brackets or arms ?9, providedwith open or slotted bearings which engage on sleeves a, on the rotatingshaft a, which operates the seed dropping devices in the seed boxes A;this construction being substantially the same as that shown anddescribed in my prior patent, No. 489,182, dated January 3, 1893. Thepower to drive the shaft a, is obtained from the axle B through themedium of a sprocket chain b, operating on suitable sprocket wheels band (1 on the main axle and the shaft, respectively. A, is the tongue,which is preferably connected to the runner frame A, by a bolt 0, whichextends entirely through said tongue and through the barA The tongue isprojected at its rear end to a point slightly in advance of the mainaxle B of the wheel frame and is provided with a bracket 0, to which isattached a spring connection d, which in turn is connected at itsopposite end to a vibrating foot lever e, on the wheel frame, in themanner hereinafter more fully described. This spring connection d,consists essentially of an outer casing d, which is provided at thetopwith upwardly extending ears d perforated at the upper end to receive abolt (i which passes through the respective ears and the end of thevibrating foot lever e. The casing d is formed to receive a plunger d*,which fits in said casing.

and is provided with an upwardly projecting stem d,which extends througha perforation formed in the top of said casing and is held in placetherein by a pin d, which passes through said stem on the outside andabove said casing. A spring 01 arranged within said casing, rests atopposite ends against the top of said casing and against the plunger (1respectively, so that a downward pressure of the outer casing serves toexert a yielding pressure on the end of the tongue.

The vibrating foot lever e, is connected to and supported on atransverse shaft 6, journaled in suitable bearin gs on the wheel frame;

this connection being preferably established through the medium of lugsor cars e formed on said shaft; said ears or lugs being bolted orotherwise secured to said vibrating foot lever. The shaft e, is furtherprovided with a projecting hand lever (a provided with the customaryspring bolt or other fastening device, adapted to engage in suitablenotches provided therefor in a ratchet stand a", secured to the frame;the result of the construction being that a yielding pressure may beexerted on the runner frame and thus on the planting shoes, eitherthrough the medium of the hand lever a or the foot lever e; the partsbeing held in any desired position of adjustment by the ratchet stand 6The sprocket wheel 19 is preferably supported loosely on the axle B andis provided with a ratchet shaped hub adapted to engage with a ratchetclutch b provided on its outer periphery with a groove adapted to beengaged by a cam e on the foot lever (2, so as to produce a lateralmovement of said clutch collar and thus engage 'or disengage thesprocket wheel substantially in the manner described in my prior patentreferred to; means being thus provided by which the sprocket wheel isdisengaged when the runner frame is lifted so as to elevate the plantingshoes from the ground.

Any well known dropping devices may be employed within the seed hoppersfor dropping or sowing the grain into the conduits which lead to theplanting shoes; the seed being retained in the seed tubes, when it isdesired to drop the seed in hills, by means of the valves f, adapted tobe operated by arock shaft f, which in turn is operated by the forkedlever of the check heads in a well known manner. It is sometimesdesirable to operate the valves f, by hand, independent of the checkwire, and for this purposeIprovide a novel device for producing anoscillatory movement of the shaft f, from ahand lever g. This handlever'g, is pivoted at its lower end to a link connection g, which is inturn pivoted to any suitable portion of the runner frame. An L-shapedarm 9 pivoted on a bolt or pin g within a suitable support 9 is reducedat its outer end to form a projection 9 which extends through aperforation in the hand lever g. This L-shaped piece g carries at itsopposite end a segmental gear 9 adapted to engage with a similar gear 9on the shaft f. This segmental gear g is located between projecting earsor lugs g formed on the support g a bearing for the shaftf', beingformed in said lugs by means of sleeves g, which extend through saidlugs and are formed with square openings to receive the shaft f; saidsleeves and gear being placed in their proper position and the shaftextended through the same, thus holding the parts in their relativeoperating positions. It will be seen that the hand lever g, beingpivoted to the link g, forms a toggle joint, with the fulcrum of thelever g, on the projection 9 As the lever is vibrated in eitherdirection, so as to pass centers, the L- shaped piece g is oscillated,which in turn oscillates the shaft f, through the segmental gear 9 andthus produces an opening and closing of the valve f, at each stroke ofthe hand lever; the movement being a positive one in each direction;that is to say the valves are positively opened and positively closed;the use of springs of any kind being thus avoided.

To provide for holding the valvesf, in an open position when itisdesired to discharge the seed directly from the seed tubes by means ofthe drilling devices therein, I attach to the frame piece A a bearing fhaving formed integral therewith a projecting perforated lugf On therock shaft f, and adjacent to the bearingf is a collarf, having asimilar perforated projecting lug f These arms or lugs are so arrangedwith reference to each other that when the valvef, is open, theperforations in said arms or lugs stand coincident, and the valves areretained in this position by inserting through said perforations a pin,preferably in the nature of a cotterf, which holds the valves open andpermits the machine to be used simply as a drill.

The seed boxes A, are supported on the frame piece A, by brackets it.These brackets are connected to the standards 71., of the planting shoesA by means of clamping bolts h It is desirable that means be providedfor changing the distance between the planting shoes so as to plant thegrain at difierent distances apart, to suit the preferences of theoperator. To provide for thisin an easy and simple manner, I constructthe frame piece A with a series of perforations 71.3, at the top, (seeFig. 18) and on the bottom of the bracket which rests on said framepiece, Iprovide an extended stud or projection h, adapted to fit in anyone of said perforations. The bracket is preferably formed with ribs orflanges 71 which engage on each side of the bar A These flanges,together with the stud, hold the seed boxes and the brackets firmly inthe proper position on the said bar and relieve the bolts M, of anyundue strain, either in a lateral or longitudinal direction. In orderthat the planting shoe may be retained at all times in the properrelative position to the seed boxes and at the same time permit theready adjustment of the parts,I provide in the brackets h, a recessedopening it, adapted to receive the projecting end 7L7, of the standardh, which fits snugly in said recess. By loosening the bolts 71?, thebracket 72, may be raised sufficiently to withdraw the stud orprojection 7L after which the parts may be moved to any desired positionalong the bar A and clamped in this position by means of said bolts whenthe stud 72. has engaged in the proper perforation; the parts being allheld positively in the proper relative positions. The conduit h from theseed boxes is preferably made separable from the stand- ICO attachedyieldingly to the frame by means of,

a resilient U-shaped spring is, which is connected at its lower end to across bar 10 car-- rying at each end right-angled connecting clips M3.These connecting clips 10 are serrated on their opposite faces, whichstand at right angles to each other and are adapted to fit incorresponding serrations formed in the ends of the shoes k,-and thecross bar k respectively; the partsbeing secured together bybolts I 10which form pivotal connections for the respective parts and thus perinita substantially universal adjustment'of the shovels .10, so .that theywill assume any desiredangle to accomplish the work to be performed.

In order to permit the shovels to be readily attached or detached, asthecase may be, I.

form in the standard h, of the-planting shoe, a recess or pocket h whichextends under the bar A and .is adapted to receive the free end of theU-shaped spring is; said spring being held against accidentaldisplacement by a-bolt or other fastening (see Fig. 14.)

' The seat m, for the operator, is placed at the top of a U-shapedsupport an, and supported on a seat plate m vThis platem is preferablybent downwardly -and backwardly to form a connecting portion Wi and tothis portion m is attached a U-shaped brace 111. which extends aroundthe support m',and is bolted or otherwise secured thereto, as shown at mwith the ends of said brace connected at m to the wheel frame; thisconstruction being adapted to form a simple as well as an exceedinglyetfioient and. strong connection for the seat. I

In planting seeds generally it is desirable that means may be providedfor varying the quantity of seed sown. This may be readily accomplishedby changing the speed of the feed shaft or, which may be done bychanging the size of the sprocket wheel on said feed shaft. Toaccomplish this I have provided a sprocket wheel formed in two parts, n,'n, adapted to fit on a central hub or core n provided with a projectingflange a to which therespective parts a, a, may be secured by bolts orother fastening devices W. The central hub or core n is secured rigidlyto the shaft a, and admits of the ready detachment of the parts n, n,which may be replaced-by parts of different diameters, thus furnishingmeans for readily varying the speed of the feedshaft and thus thequantity of seed sown without other change in the operative parts.

It will be seen that a machine constructedin accordance with the abovedescription embodies many features of utility, both in the constructionand -operation; and while in many cases I have specified with someminuteness the details of mechanical construction,it is quite obviousthat these may be de- Viated from and modifications thereof employedwithout in any way impairing the effectiveness of the construction orthe results obtainedthereby. I do not therefore limit myself to theexact constructions shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a corn planter, thecombination with the seedtubes, the valves in said seed tubes, a rockshaft connected to said valves, a segmental gear on said rock shaft, anL-shaped piece having gear teeth adapted to mesh with said segmentalgear, a lever fulcrumed on said L-shaped piece, said lever beingconnected at'its-lower end to a pivotal link adapted to form a togglejoint, substantially as speci- 2. The combination with the rock shaftand the-valves in the seed tubes operated by said rock shaft, asegmental gear on said rock shaft, and a pivoted segmental gear on astationary frame, a link pivoted to said frame, and a lever pivoted tosaid link, said lever being fulcrumed on an extended portion of saidpivoted segmental gear, whereby 9. .vibratory movement of said leverproduces an oscillatory movement of said shaft, substan tially asspecified. 3. In a corn planter,'a spring coupling between the runnerand wheel frames, said spring coupling consisting essentially of acylindrical casing, open at the bottom and having a perforation at thetop, upwardly extending ears formed integral with said cylinder onopposite sides of said perforation, a

spring in said casing adapted to bear against the. top of said casingaround said perforation, aplunger fitting in said casing and bear- .ingagainst'the opposite end of said spring,a

stem on said plunger passing through said spring and through saidperforation and projecting upwardly from said casing between andparallel to said projecting ears, a con-' necting bar connected betweensaid ears and adapted to limit the upward movement of said plunger, anda pin extending through said plunger above said casing to limit thedownward movement of said plunger and of said spring, substantially asspecified.

4. In a corn planter, the combination with the planting shoes having theseed tubes, valves in said seed tubes, a rock shaft for op-- eratingsaid valves, and means for oscillating said shaft, a stationary bracketadjacent to said shaft having a perforation therein, and

a movable projection on said shaft having a corresponding perforation,and means, substantially as described, for connecting said parts throughsaid perforations, to hold said shaft in a position to open said valves,substantially as specified.

5. The combination with the rock shaft and the valves connected thereto,means for oscillating said rock shaft, a bearing surrounding said rockshaft and having a stationary perforated lug projecting therefrom, andan arm secured to said rock shaft, having a perforation adapted tocoincide with the perforation in said lug, and means, substantially asdescribed, for connecting said parts together to prevent the oscillationof said shaft, substantially as specified.

6. The combination with the seed box and the bracket for supporting thesame, a planting shoe having a'standard independent of said bracket butconnected thereto, as described, said standard being provided with aprojection adapted to fit in a recess in said bracket, substantially asand for the purpose specified.

7. In a planter, a runner frame having a supporting bar on which thevarious parts are supported, and seed boxes supported on a bracket fromsaid bar, a planting shoe connected to said bracket by bolts adapted toclamp the parts against said bar, a projecting stud on said bracketadapted to engage in an opening in said bar, and interlocking parts onthe bracket and shoe standard, respectively, substantially as specified.

8. In a corn planter, the combination with a planting shoe, of coveringshovels arranged on opposite sides of said shoe, said covering shovelsbeing attached to the opposite ends of a transverse bar which issupported on a central supporting spring connected to said bar betweensaid shovels, said spring constituting the sole support for saidtransverse bar and shovels, substantially as specified.

9. The combination, in a corn planter, of a central curved supportingspring adapted to support a transverse bar, covering shovels, asdescribed, attached to the respective ends of said bar and on oppositesides of said spring,

attaching clips adapted to form a connection between the said bar andshovels, said clips being pivoted to said bar and to said shovels,respectively, in planes substantially at right angles to each other, soas to permit an adjustment of said shovels in either a horizontal orvertical plane, substantially as specified.

10. The combination with a planting shoe and its supporting standard,said standard being provided with a recessed bearing adapted to receivethe free end of a curved supporting spring, as described, a transversesupporting bar supported on the opposite end of said spring, coveringshovels connected to opposite ends of said bar, and means, substantiallyas described, for securing said supporting spring in the said recessedbearing, substantially as specified.

11. The combination with a central supporting spring and a transversebar, as'described, of covering shovels connected at the respective endsof said bar and supported wholly by said spring, and means,substantially as described for adjusting said shovels in a horizontal orvertical plane, substantially as specified.

12. In a planter,awheel frame, a U-shaped support mounted on said frame,and a seat plate on said support, a seat on said seat plate, said platebeing extended downwardly and backwardly and connected to a U -shapedbrace which extends downwardly at an angle to said U-shaped support andis connected thereto and to the main frame, substantially as specified.

13. In a corn planter, an oscillating shaft, a segmental gear attachedto said shaft, a pivoted vibrating piece having gear teeth adapted toengage with said segmental gear, a lever pivotally connected to saidvibrating piece, said lever being pivotally connected to a link, wherebya vibratory movement of said lever produces an oscillatory movement ofsaid shaft, substantially as specified.

LOUIS C. EVANS.

In presence of- ROBERT C. RODGERS, FRANK WATT.

